U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Kyrsten Sinema have introduced the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 with the aim of enabling asylum seekers to find employment and achieve self-sufficiency sooner. The waiting period before asylum seekers can receive work authorizations would be reduced under the legislation. Senator Angus King is a co-sponsor of the bill. The Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023, or H.R. 1325, aims to provide access to employment authorization for asylum seekers. It shortens the waiting time for work permit eligibility from 180 days to 30 days after applying for asylum, allows work permits to last for the entire duration of the asylum application process, and removes the need for repeated adjudications for renewal of asylum-based employment authorization, freeing up resources for USCIS. The bill aims to provide asylum seekers with opportunities to secure work authorization sooner, become self-sufficient, and support their families while also benefiting employers who need valuable workers.
Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq.
Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
